Plate tectonics on the early Earth: Limitations imposed by strength and buoyancy of subducted lithosphere

Hunen, Jeroen van; Berg, A. P. van den

doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2007.09.016

Cited by 276 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

141

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…[12] Earlier in Earth's history, tectonics may have been different: although there is some evidence for Archean plate tectonics involving subduction, the style of mantle convection on a hotter early Earth is still debated and the form of plate tectonics during that time is unclear [Davies, 1992;de Wit, 1998;Sizova et al, 2010;van Hunen and van den Berg, 2008]. However in recent Earth history, plate tectonics is certainly characterized by single-sided subduction as observed nowadays by seismic tomography [King, 2001;Wortel and Spakman, 2000;Zhao, 2004].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single‐sided subduction on Earth

Crameri

Tackley

Meilick

et al. 2012

Geophysical Research Letters

161

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] Earth's lithosphere is characterized by the relative movement of almost rigid plates as part of global mantle convection. Subduction zones on present-day Earth are strongly asymmetric features composed of an overriding plate above a subducting plate that sinks into the mantle. While global self-consistent numerical models of mantle convection have reproduced some aspects of plate tectonics, the assumptions behind these models do not allow for realistic single-sided subduction. Here we demonstrate that the asymmetry of subduction results from two major features of terrestrial plates: (1) the presence of a free deformable upper surface and (2) the presence of weak hydrated crust atop subducting slabs. We show that assuming a free surface, rather than the conventional free-slip surface, allows the dynamical behavior at convergent plate boundaries to change from double-sided to single-sided. A weak crustal layer further improves the behavior towards steady single-sided subduction by acting as lubricating layer between the sinking and the overriding plate. This is a first order finding of the causes of single-sided subduction, which by its own produces important features like the arcuate curvature of subduction trenches. Citation: Crameri, F., P. J. Tackley, I. Meilick, T. V.Gerya, and B. J. P. Kaus (2012), A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single-sided subduction on Earth, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L03306,

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single‐sided subduction on Earth

Crameri

Tackley

Meilick

et al. 2012

Geophysical Research Letters

161

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The equations are solved on linear triangular elements. The modeling package SEPRAN has been used in geodynamical modeling for many years(e.g., Čížková et al, 2007;van Hunen and van den Berg, 2008;Chertova et al, 2012;Androvičová et al, 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the early simplified two-dimensional isothermal model configurations (Gurnis and Hager, 1988;Christensen, 1996), model complexity and especially the number of materials present in numerical models has dramatically increased as seen in recent three-dimensional thermomechanically coupled models that include multiple materials and phase changes as well as surface deformation and complex rheologies (e.g., van Hunen and Allen, 2011;Duretz et al, 2014). For instance multiple materials are important to investigate the influence of an oceanic crust on the decoupling of subducting and overriding plates as well as on the buoyancy of the subducting slab (Běhounková andČižková, 2008;van Hunen and van den Berg, 2008;Androvičová et al, 2013); they are also important for research involving subduction termination by continental collision (e.g., Baumann et al, 2010;Magni et al, 2012). Other studies focus on the influence of complex rheologies on slab dynamics (Billen and Hirth, 2007;Andrews and Billen, 2009); finally, the aim of many recent studies has been to investigate the influence and response of a free surface in subduction modeling (e.g., Schmeling et al, 2008;Gerya et al, 2009;Quinquis et al, 2011;Duretz et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The level set method allows for tracking material surfaces in 2-D and 3-D flow modeling and is well suited for applications of multi-material flow modeling. The level set method utilizes smooth level set functions to define material interfaces, which makes the method stable and free of oscillations that are typically observed in case step-like functions parameterize interfaces. By design the level set function is a signed distance function and gives for each point in the domain the exact distance to the interface as well as on which side it is located. In this paper we present four benchmarks which show the validity, accuracy and simplicity of using the level set method for multi-material flow modeling. The benchmarks are simplified setups of dynamical geophysical processes such as the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, post-glacial rebound, subduction and slab detachment. We also demonstrate the benefit of using the level set method for modeling a free surface with the sticky air approach. Our results show that the level set method allows for accurate material flow modeling and that the combination with the sticky air approach works well in mimicking Earth's free surface. Since the level set method tracks material interfaces instead of materials themselves, it has the advantage that the location of these interfaces is accurately known and that it represents a viable alternative to the more commonly used tracer method.

show abstract

“…Most on-going modern subduction is driven in part by the drag from already-descending parts of the plate within which the basaltic portion of the crust has transformed to denser eclogite. Local compression and other tectonic forces may help to overcome buoyancy while opposing forces such as resistance to bending of the lithosphere, frictional plate-coupling and viscous shear in the mantle resist the process (Schutt and Lesher, 2006;van Hunen and van den Berg, 2008;van Hunen and Moyen, 2012). Whether or not subduction or some other process cycled back into the mantle the crust that was produced by melting of hot mantle is a matter of conjecture.…”

Section: The Onset Of Plate Tectonics -A Great Debate In the Geosciencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formation and Evolution of the Continental Crust

Arndt¹

2013

GeochemPersp

226

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plate tectonics on the early Earth: Limitations imposed by strength and buoyancy of subducted lithosphere

Cited by 276 publications

References 63 publications

A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single‐sided subduction on Earth

A free plate surface and weak oceanic crust produce single‐sided subduction on Earth

Using the level set method in geodynamical modeling of multi-material flows and Earth's free surface

Formation and Evolution of the Continental Crust

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About